Despite the rain, thousands of activists marched in London on Saturday to protest against austerity and inflation, and to demand a general election. We need a mass campaign of action to boot out the Tories and their rotten system.
Last Saturday, 5 November, dozens of Socialist Appeal activists joined thousands of workers and youth in central London for a national demonstration called by the People’s Assembly.
This protest against the Tory government and the cost-of-living crisis came less than two weeks after City of London poster boy Rishi Sunak was coronated as the new prime minister, following Truss’ ill-fated tenure.
This latest Tory administration is yet another government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich. Sunak’s anointment as PM was the result of a stitch-up within the establishment. He has no mandate from the electorate – nor even from the unhinged Tory membership.
Protestors were therefore loud and clear in saying: Tories out!
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Balancing the books
The main slogan of the march was ‘general election now!’, with speakers such as Jeremy Corbyn calling for this from the platform at the rally in Trafalgar Square.
But through what means can workers bring down this degenerate Tory government? And what should come next?
A wing of the ruling class is also calling for a general election, preferring a Starmer Labour government to the endless chaos under successive Tory regimes.
With Rishi Sunak at the helm, promising billions in new cuts to ‘balance the books’, however, the majority of the establishment seems happy to wait and see for the time being.
If there is a general election, this is likely to bring in a Starmer-led government. But the Labour leader has made it abundantly clear that he intends to be a faithful servant of big business and the ruling class.
And with the crisis of capitalism deepening by the day, a right-wing Labour government would be just as crisis-ridden as the current Tory one.
In turn, Starmer would follow in Sunak’s footsteps, continuing the attacks and austerity against the working class that the Tories are preparing as we speak.
Socialist programme
While the establishment might push for a general election and a Starmer government in their interests, therefore, workers and youth must fight with class struggle methods to boot out the entire cohort of Tory scum – and the whole rotten system they represent.
Trade union leaders are already raising the need for coordinated action, with PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka and RMT general secretary Mick Lynch emphasising the need to unite the struggles at Saturday’s rally.
“Do you stand with the working class?”
Stirring stuff from @RMTunion Mick Lynchpic.twitter.com/AW3hFm0Zyp— RMT (@RMTunion) November 5, 2022
This points the way forward. A mass campaign of coordinated, rolling strikes and protests could topple this bankers’ government.
But after sending the Tories packing, the working class must not rest in the face of a Tory-lite government led by Starmer.
Instead, we must fight for a bold socialist programme, based on the expropriation of the billionaires and the nationalisation of the monopolies, in order to democratically plan the economy under workers’ control.
Revolutionary leadership
Those marching side by side on Saturday were clearly not prepared to settle for austerity – whether this is inflicted by Sunak or Starmer.
Instead, Socialist Appeal activists put forward radical slogans that were picked up and amplified by protesters in the orbit of our bloc: “They say price rise, we say nationalise!”; “No wage losses – overthrow the bosses!”; “One solution: revolution!”
“One solution, revolution!” ✊
The bosses and Tories have nothing to offer workers and youth but cuts, attacks and misery.
We need to kick out this entire capitalist system, and put the working class in control of society!
Do you agree? Join the Marxists! pic.twitter.com/WN9XFiR4J7
— Socialist Appeal (@socialist_app) November 5, 2022
The crisis of capitalism is eroding the living conditions of workers and youth everywhere, causing increasingly large numbers to draw revolutionary conclusions.
A period of sharp battles lies ahead as the ruling class, in order to defend their own profits and privileges, try to claw back every gain that the working class has won in the past through struggle.
To win, our movement requires revolutionary leadership, to channel the immense potential power of the working class and wield it like a sledgehammer: against the capitalists, the bankers, and the landlords – and against the politicians who represent these parasites.
Such a leadership needs to be built – and urgently. Responsibility for this vital task comes down to us.
So if you too are sick to the stomach of this stinking system, then join us in the fight to build the forces of Marxism and throw the capitalist system where it belongs – into the dustbin of history!
